Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-08-26
The Labor m.v.m.u, in P.l,,,e..


The Labor Movement In Politics.
The United Labor party of New York,
of which Henry George is the prophet and
leader, met in convention at Syracuse last
week adopted a platform, and nominated
"A ticket for the state officers to be chosen
this fall, with George for secretary of state
the highest office to be filled The plat
form adopted is similar to that upon which
Mr. George ran for the mayoralty Of New
York last fall. Among other things it says
Holding that the corruptions Of the
government and the impoverishment Of la
Dor result from the neglect of the self-evi-
dent truths proclaimed by the founders of
the republic, that all men are created free
and equal, and are endowed by their Crea-
tor with inalenable rights, we aim at the
abolition of the system which compels men
to pay their fellow-creatures for the use of
Gods gift to all, and permits monopolies to
deprive labor of natural opportunities for
employment, is filling the land with tramps
and paupers, and is bringing about an un-
natural competition which tends to reduce
wages to starvation rates, and make the
wealth producer an industrial slave to those
who grow rich by this toll
1--WE declare the true purposes of gov
eminent to be the maintenance of that
sacred right of property which gives to
every one opportunity to employ his labor,
and security that he shall enjoy its fruits
to prevent the strong from expressing the
weak and the INSCRIPTIONS from robbing
the honest, and to do for the equal benefit
of all such things as can be better done by
organized society than by individuals.
81 - e III
which give to any class of citizens advan-
tages, either Judicial, industrial or political
that are not equally shared by all others
1--WE do not aim at securing any forced
equality in the distribution of wealth We
do not propose that the state shall attempt
to control production, conduct distribution
or in nnywise interfere with the freedom
of the individual to use his labor or capital
in any way that may seem proper to him
and that will not interfere with the equal
rights of others. Nor do we propose that
the state shall take possession of the land
and either work it or rent it out.
What we propose is not the disturbing
of any man in his holdings in title, but by
abolishing all taxes on industry or its prod
ucts, to leave to the producer the full fruits
of his exertion, and by the taxation of land
values, exclusive of improvements, to de
vote to common use those values which,
arising not from the exertion of the indi-
vidual but the growth of society, belong
justly to the community as whole This
increased taxation of land, not according
to its area, but according to its value, must,
while relieving the working farmer and
small homestead owner of the undue bur
den now imposed upon him, make it un-
profitable to hold land for speculation, and
nh tru fiaa
for the employment of labor and the build
ing up of homes,
1--WE would have the general government
issue all money without the Intervention Of
banks we would add postal telegraph sys-
tens and postal saving banks to the postal
| service, and would assume public control
and ownership of these iron roads which
have become the highways of modern COM
merce. We desire to simplify the proceed
ure of our courts and diminish the expenses
of legal proceedings, that the poor may be
placed on an equality with the rich and the
long delays which now result in scanda-
lous miscarriages of justice may he pre-
vented
Resolutions were also adopted favoring
cooperation with other labor organizations
throughout the country in calling a nation
favoring protection for the state canals
condemning Congress for not passing the
eight-hou law for letter carriers favoring
a law extending the maximum school age
of children from ii TO l6 years asking
for free public libraries denouncing the
press monopoly of New York city demand
ing the secrecy of the ballot opposing the
employment OF armed bodies of men by
private corporations or individuals in the
state opposing class legislation opposing
the use of public money for any but public
schools or public charities favoring wom-
an suffrage and expressing sympathy for
the Irish in their struggle.
a notable feature of the convention was
the refusal of George and his adherents t.
coalescc with the socialistic element which
sought recognition and the distinct repu
diation Of socialistic doctrines in the plat
form As result of this action the SO
called labor interests of New York are
now arrayed in three distinct factions, the
Socialists, who have made no nominations
and are probably more noisy than numer
Gus the Union Labor party which has &
ticket in the field, and is opposed TO the
free trade and land tax fallacies of the
George movement and the United Labor
or George party, which boasts a thorough
organization and processes to be confident
of polling Il large vote. This enumeration
takes no account of the Trades Assembly
the Federation Of Labor, and various Other
labor organizations which have more OF
less of politics in them. 1t is is not proba
ble that the Socialistic Labor party vii
make nominations and if it does not, tn,
labor vote, so far as it finds distinct expires
sion, will be divided between the Unior
and the United factions, the latter having
most strength in the cities, and the former
in the country. The chief interest in tn,
election is in the bearing upon the natioua
campaign of next year. II the Georg,
movement goes to pieces and polls small
vote, the effect will be to discourage a ma
tional labor movement next year. II, OIL
the other hand, it attains anything like tn,
proportions which its promoters anticipate
it will be the precursor Of formidable OF
ganization next year which viii greatly in
tuence the result of the campaign, albei
without this 1t promises 10 possess enough
of the element Of uncertainty. These con
tingences make the present situation il
New York of interest TO the people of 9th
. er states